Making records for setting slide-valves.



J. '8. MICHAEL. MAKING RECORDS FOR SETTING SLIDE VALVES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1908.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses,

I or 1 J. B. MICHAEL.

MAKING REGORDS FOR SETTING SLIDE VALVES.

- APPLICATION FILED 00T.30,1906.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Fig. 10.

Attorney.

J. B. MICHAEL. MAKING RECORDS FOR SETTING SLIDE VALVES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1906.

94 ,453 Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHBETSSHEET 3.

W zitncaaes, I Inventor A tt'orlwy.

J. B. MICHAEL.

MAKING RECORDS FOR SETTING SLIDE VALVES. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 30, 1906.

942,453. Patented De. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Fig. .9.

H P I l \o a Inventol; mat e J Attorney.

the fpcrt mark plane.

To all. t

concern 1v. t v Be t khdwn'that I, JOHN B-AKER'LIICHAEL,

a saniti er -impaired States, residin' at "the-.city cf -Knoxville, in the county of nox )hrfdiStite of Tennessee, have invented certain-newiand useful Improvements in A parameter-Making Becords for Settings ide- This smashes a; means for automaticall' jmaking a-record indicating the relative jo'vements. of steam: eng ne pistons i andslid valves, the urpose of such record being to flord data! or theresetting or ad- I .v which control..-the valve movements, if such 'ustmentof the eccentrics and eccentric rods recordt shcws'fthat such adjustment is necessaryoneooountof improper relation between-th ovements of the pistons and the slide was;

, 'lhe apparatusj'is intended a; be used an iocomotiv sj andother steam en ines when they. ureignnders 'steam hfter the s ide valves havebeen-setdaccordmg to common prac- \icewhile the steam chest. coversjare raised) andthe--valve..;. stem markedwith what are known asfpdrt' ma-r .one 'sueh mark'bee ing made tvithla 'trammel setin a "punch mark-wont. hen-valve. chest; or cylinderhead when the; "lvezis. soset, ,as to barely cover being. ma eiwith the trammel similarly set when thegva'lve-barel covers the'back ort. The first-offisaid'mar sisrt'ermed the ront mark-,-.whilefthe second is termedthc.

rback'iport mark. Such marking can be.

done onl whenthe valve chest is without steam an opemsothat the valve can be seen and its position measured. According to established practice, said marks are left permanently-u on the valve stem. Hence they are av'ailab e atany future. time for use in making measurements for ascertaining the relative movements of the slide valve and the piston. And they have been so used,

but by a' methodfdifl'er'ent from my method' For convenience in description, thev'plane which is transverse to the valve stem and in Speclflcation of Letters Patent;

I Application filed Qctober 30, 1906. Serial No. 341,310.

alvosoff the following is a specifica-- put upon one of its dead centers, whereby JoKnnaxnnmrcmnL; or KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE;

mxma amconns ron sn'rrmc SLIDE-VALVES.

Patented Dec-=7, 1909;

marks being on one side and'tlie other on the other side of a longitudinal line on the valve stem called the parallel line Ac cording to established practice if such testward motion or back-up, one set of said and adjustment are to be made, the reversing mechanism being set for forwardmiotion or go ahead, the drive wheel .crank pm is the cross-head and piston are also put on the corresponding dead center .or end of their stroke. This isaccomplished by Kfpinchmake a temporary mark in the port mark plane and at one side of the parallel line and adjacent thefo'rwa'rd fport mark on said stern; Then "the --en in'e Li s a ain pinched until it. is out o rear end center, as indicated by theahnement of the cross-head with the rear travel mark on p the top guide; Then, by means of the trammel, a mark is made on the-valvestem, in the same plane, adjacent the; rear portmark?-'which has shifted into or near said plane-by the movement of the said stem. The reversing mechanismis then reversed and the engine again brought to the dead centers by pinching backward and temporary marks made in'saidzplane and at the other side of the parallel line. Then the port marks and said temporary marks are used, in a manner well known to those skilled in this art, to make an adjustment of the eccentrics and eccentric rods. For the sake of convenience in description, .I. will herein apply the term, trial portmark's, to the marksmade with the trarnmel upon the valve stem after the engine has been pinched so as to bring the piston, cross-head, etc., to the dead Centers as above described. v I

Now the object of my invention is to provide' means for making a record Qco'mprising these trial port marks while the-engine diflicult. and because when the engine moves forward or backward under its own steam, all the operative parts are under normal temperature (and consequent normal ex-.

pansion) and under normal relation and strain.

The foundation feature of my invention is the lacing of a recording device adjacent the s lide valve stem and causing said recording device to place trial port marks upon the valve stem (or upon a card on said stem) when the cross-head and associated parts pass the dead centers, the cross-head or some other part in operative relation with the piston and moving synchronously therewith being used to actuate the recording device. In the form shown by the drawings, the crosshead is used to close an electric circuit upon which the recording device and an electric battery, or its equivalent, are located.

The advanta e of my marking or recording apparatus ies in the fact that it operates during the movement of the engine, while the method heretofore practiced requires the engine to be at rest with the pi s-. .ton and cross-head and associated parts in precise positions. In adjusting stationary steam engines, my improvement is 111 the same manner important, for when engines are large it is diflicult to manually move the piston, cross-head, crank, fly wheel, etc., to accurately attain the dead centers.

For the sake of convenience, I prefer to apply to the slide valve stem a card to which thepermanent port marks and parallel line of said stem have been transferred, the card being placed upon and secured to said stem in such osition as to bring said transferred .inarks (irectly above the marks. on said stem. Then the trial port marks can be made by a point or stylus which will clearly mark upon the card but could not distinctly mark the surface of the metal stem. But the marking upon such a card placed upon the stem is to be regarded as marking upon the stem.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion oLa locomotive embodying my improvement; Fig. 2 is a side elevatiop of mechanism mounted upon the piston rod cross-head and embodying portions of a circuit and mechanism adapted for closing said circuit when the piston rod reaches the dead centers; Fig. 3-.is an en-' larged sectionalclevation of the right hand portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

,Fig. 4 is a plan of a portion of the locomotive showing my recording mechanism applied thereto; Fig. 5 is aside elevation ofa portion of the to guide and aport on of the valve rod with my stylus supporting and operating mechanism applied thereto; Fig. 6 is a. section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking toward the left; Fi 7 is a section on the line '(7 of Fig. 5; Fig. '8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the upper portion of the stylus supporting and operating mechanism; Fig. 9 is. a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a detail of the stylus clamp; Fig. 11 is a perspective of a spring clamp usedin securing the record card to the valve rod; Fig. 12 is a. view of a record card bearing a record.

Said drawings illustrate only the apparatus applied to the right handside'of a locomotive. Similar mechanism is to be used on the left. hand side. i

A is one of the drive wheels of the loco- K is a portion of tlie'boiler to which t e upper end of said yoke is secured.

L is a run board on the side of the boiler. Mis the valve chest. N is the valve stem or rod. 0 is an upper rocker arm to which the rear end of said stem is secured." P is'a rock shaftfsupporting said arm and resting in a 1368,1111", Q. ()u said shaft is the lower rocker arm,

S is the sliding block connected to the lower rocker arm, and T is the link-slidable upon said block. U, U are eccentric rods coupled by their forward ends to said link and immovably joined by their rear ends'to eccentric straps, V, surrounding eccentrics, W, on the shaft or axle, B.

" The parts thus far described are old and may be of any desired specific form and arrangement. In other words, said parts belong to the locomotive and are not my invention. The mechanism constituting a part of my invention is temporarily attached to the parts named.

Inthe form of my mechanism illustrated by the drawings, a portion: of my recording apparatusis applied to the cross-head, E, and another portion is applied to the top guide beside the valve stem) --The'portion applied to the cross-head is in operative relation with the piston, with-reference to which the valve is to be set. The par oseof the mechanism applied to said crosse'ad is "to cl'o's'eaiiele'ctricl circuit vhen thecran'k,

pins onthddrive wheel are on their I r centers and-thecross-hea'd reaches each end ofits stroke.

I; A horizontal rod, 1', extends loosely through-cars, 9,- on the side of the cross head. The portions of said :Jod adjacent s dismure screw threaded, ,and at each i'jsi de of each 'ofs'aid can? nuts, 3, surround said fare ad'apte'dfto be turned against'the ,Bythis"nieans said rod may be adusted endwise with accuracy and firmly se lc ured to saidears.

Qneach' end or the rod, 1, isa tlezzible U-- ape member, 4, having ,in one arm an )erture, 5, through which the adjacent end {:of thefro'd, 1, extends and having on its othei end a normally open push button, 6,

"directed horizontally away from the rod, 1." 20.;At each side of the arm which surrounds 1 ium-oai,name, 7, surrounding said rod 'ad'apted'to bind against ,said arm firinly secur'e said U-shape member to the ;od,11 And-by means of said nuts, said it shape member may be, to a limited extent, ,adjus'ted' horizontally along said rod, 1. "wire, 8,anda'wire, 9, are joined to opposite, sides of the'push button, 6; and a wire, 10,; leads trointhe Wire, 8, to one side of a but tery,'1l,-s'eatedon the 'i'un-board, L, while awn-e, 12', leads from the wire, 9, to the recording mechanism, X, and thence to the e'tl erside of the battery, 11. The length of United, 1; is's uch as to permit such an adju'stn'ient-of said bar and the U-shape menihers, 4', as u) causethe forward push button to bear against theadjacentghead of the cyllindeiy G, when ,the piston and the crosshead reach their forward limit or dead 40 center-" fwhile the rear push but-ton will bear iigainst' the adjacent guide yoke, J, when the piston" and cross-head reach their rearliinit or dead center, so that the electrieycin cufits' on which said push buttons art a lo;

dated will be closed as often as either of the two dead centers is reached.

The forward U-shape member is set away iironi the head of the cylinden't-t, a distance equal to the distance,at the time of such setting,'bet-\vee11 the cross-headand de tor' wa rd travel mark on'the top guide; and 'e rear U-shape member is set away from t eguide yoke, J, a distance equal to the distance, at the time of such setting, be-

tween the cross-head and its rear travel mark --on-the top guide; Then, as will now be readily understood,when' the cross-head moves forward to the forward travel mark, the forward push button-will bear against the cylinder'fhead, and when the cross-head moves backward to the back travel mark, the. back' push button willbear against the guide yoke, J.

l/Ve turn now to the stylus supporting and tilted, Upon sait cylindrical. cavity, 2%, in whichY restsia tn 1725, lilrving aronnd its uppe' .is supported an ant i' so pending flange, 15?, adapted to. extend over the adjhcent laterahface f the guide, and

:each of suid fiangesiis,pnetratedby a-jhorizontal set-bolt, adapted to beznhgainst the adjacent lateral face of thetop guide. For leveling" said, base,' a set-bolt, 2U, screw-threaded downward through each side edge of saidbase between the flanges,

and is adapted to bear upon theupper face of the top guide. By driving either o'tsaid -bolts downward, said base andthe pedestal hereinafter described are correspondingly ase rests a pedestal, ,,:21,

havin uorie'ht slots 22.":1t right an 'les to b .l t) M1,? .1, a 7:;

binding boltsJ-ZS. extend through said slots into said base, A er loosening said bolts, the pedestal. may be shafted transversely upon the top guide toward. or from, the

Saidtpedesptl has an llplii gllt valve stem.

end an on ttree ward-directed flange I d tube is to rotate ings id ea" 2y, 2%, 'eXc it is bound by aset5bolt,-,2,7 er' tenuin" Z-ontallu through thewttpper port i0 wall 01 the pedest (see ltigl'fiy,

7 in the lower portion o lifthe v tub resting by its lower endupon the bottom oi the cavity, 2%, an upright expanding coiled spring,'-:28, lh yieldingly supports the upright stem, 2 lot ,the recorder head. Said stem is fitter .slidably into said tube v 'roove or channel, 30, into which extends a stud, 3l, projecting i11- ward from the tube jzoyto. prevent saidstem from turning, while; it free to slide up and down in said tube. it is desired to turn said stem, the it bolt, =T,' is"loosened. The recorder head upported by said stem cohipi'ises a roller adapted to'bear against i. screw-threaded stem, d-ft, extends,through said slot and 1s surroundedabove 1 arm by a nut, 35, and .belovtsaid arm.;by

36. Qnthe upper end of said stem' ,1 p 37, having upright ea 38, between, v

, v i been, ittll an axle, d0, extending througl 1,4 and 'said ears. Eha pur s pfi sai-d roller is to bear against, e h men tacecot the valve stem dur' the movements of the latter, so that the stem, 29, will be pressed downward during each downward movement of the valve stem. The spring, 28, bears u Ward and yieldi lyopposes the downwar presid stem, 29, through the downsure of sa ward movement of the valve stem, causing said stem, 29, to rise whenever the valve stem rises. Thus the stem, 29, is given an up and down movement which is synchronous and co-extensive with the upland down so as to change the direction of the axis of the roller in the horizontal plane, (2) said stem may be moved horizontally in the slot, 83, so as to change the distance between said roller and the stem, 29, for the purpose of bringing the roller directly under the valve stem, and (3) the stem, 34, may be moved up or down in the slot, 33, to vary the pressure of said roller against the lower face of the valve stem, or, in otherwords, to vary the strain of the stem, 29, upon the coiled ring, 28. .And from the upper portion of t e stem, 29, rises an upright plate, 41, which is in a plane transverse to the valve stem and is penetrated by a slot, 42, which is parallel to and approximately concentric with the valve stem.

The back plate, 43, of the electro-magnet housing has a c lindrical wrist, 44, extending into said s 0t, and on said wrist is a screw-threaded stem, 45,'which is surrounded by a washer, 46, and a thumb-nut, 47. By means of saidnut and washer, said back plate ma be tightly bound to said plate, 41; and on oosening said nut, said late may be turned on the axis of said wrist, 44, or moved up and down with reference to said slot. Thus a two-fold adjustment of the stylus may be made: (1) up and down, w ile the stylus does not change position horizontall and a (2) transversely to the length of t e valve stem, whereby the stylus may be made to bear upon the valve stem nearer to or farther from the plate, 41. In this manner, the stylus may be made to mark on, two lines which are parallel to each other and parallel to the valve stem axis. Up and .down adjustment is made to adapt the elevation of the stylus to the elevation.

of the rhller, 39. The front member or portion, 48, of the housing is in box form and has above and below an car, 49, bearing against the back plate, 43, and screws, 50, extend through said ears into the back plate and bind said front portion to said back late. Upon said back late and within sai housing are a pair of e ectro-magnets, 51, adjacent which is an upright armature, 52, hinged b its lower endat 53 and extendin throng an aperture, 54, in the upper wal of the housing member, 48. Above said housing, said armature hasahorizontal arm, 52, and said arm extends through a guide block, 55, which is supported by an upright-screwthreaded stem, 56, extending loosely through the bottom of a cylindrical cup, 57. In said cup said stem is surrounded y an upright coiled spring, 58, and above said spring said stem is surrounded by an adjusting nut, 59. Thus the guide block, 55, is yieldingly supported by said spring, and by raising and lowering said nut, the adjacent portion of said stylus-supporting arm may be raised or lowered. Said cup is su ported by a horizontal arm, 60, which is rigidly secured to the back plate, 43, of the housing.

On the outer end of the armature-supporting arm, 52, is a stylus-holding device, 61, and 64 the stylus or pencilsecurely held in said'holding device. Said holding device is shown by the drawings as being a clamp having an upright slot, 62, arallel to the length of the arm, 52, and aving an upright aperture, 63, cut by said slot and of proper size to receive the st lus or pencil. A binding screw, 65, exten s transversely through said holding device to draw the portions of the latter at opposite sides of said slot toward each other for the binding of the stylus.

- The armature 1s normally held away from the magnets by a spring, 66. When said magnets are energized, the upright portion of the armature moves toward the'magnets, whereby the horizontal arm, 52, is pushed through the guide block, 55, in the corresponding direction, the stylus holding device, 61, and the stylus or pencil, 64, moving away from said guide block, thus imparting to the stylus or pencil a movement which is transverse-to the course of the valve stem but is, on account of the simultaneous movement of said stem, slightly oblique to the latter. By the aid of a standardt'trammel, the stylus support is so set as to bring the stylus into the port mark plane. This may be done regardless of the position of the cross-head: hence it may be done regardless of the positions in which the parts of the engine may at the time be resting. The magnets, 51, are placed in circuit with the pushbuttons, 6, 6, and the battery, 11, by means of the wires 8, 9, 10, and 12, as above described.

In Fig. 12, 67 is arecord card. This has a longitudinal, parallel line, 68, and a transverse, diagonal center line, 6; posite sides of and equi-distant from the intersection of said lines (which I term the center of the card) are two diagonal record lines, 7 O, which correspond to the permanent port marks 011 the valve stem. Said lines, "4'0, may be laid uponthe card with dividers by measuring on the valve stem from the center between the port marks and applying such measurement from the card center. The lines, 7 O, are set at the same angle as are the corresponding port marks on the valve stem. At any time, regardless the positions in which the parts of the engine may be resting, said card (if it is is to be placed and secured upon the valve stem with the lines, 70, directly over me corresponding port marks on said stem. This may be'accom lished in several ways. By means of divi ers, a mark may be placed upon the. valve rod at a distance from one of the marks on said stem e al to tne distance between the corresponding end of the card and the nearerdia onal line, l measuring on the parallel line, co l-ind said edge of the card then placed even with. the mark so made on said stem.

on the valve stem may be marked on the valve stem and the distance between the card center and one of the end edges of the card taken by dividers, and a mark made upon the valve stem at the same distance from the center mark on the valve stem, and said edge of the card then placed even with the mark so made on the valve stem. 01' a trammel may be so set as to make its point register with one of the port marks on the valve stem and the card then moved upon and parallel to the valve stem until the corresponding line, 70, registers with the trammel point. Said card is laid closely against the face of the valve rod and secured to the iatter by any suitable means, as by a spring clamp, 72. (See Figs. 4, 6, and 11.)

the apparatus is used for adjusting the slide valve of a stationary engine, the stylus is so adjusted as to adapt it to make only two trial port marks, 73, on the card. But if the apparatus is to be used for adjusting slide valves of a locomotive, a double record for each valve is required, one representing forward motion or goahead and the other representing backward motion or back-up. Hence the stylus is preferably first so adjusted as to adantit for making two marks at one side of the parallel line 68, and when this is done. readjusted to make two marks at-the opposite side of said line. 'For making the record at the forward side of the parallel line, the stylus is set at that side of said line {and in the port mark plane) and the locomotive driven forward by its own steam until the two dead centers have been passed, whereby the electric circuit of the apparatus is twice closed, once by the pressing of one of the push buttons and again by the pressing of the other push button. And the closing of the circuit occurs when the valve rod is at its two limits of forward and backward moven'ient, or appronimately so, de pending upon whctner the position of the eccentric sustains its proper relation to the position of the crank upon the drive wheel. But wnateversuch relation may be, the closingof the circuit causes the stylus to make one trial port mark, 73, which becomes a companion to one of the marks or lines, 70, and when the circuit is again closed, the stylus makes another trial port mark, 73, which becomes a companion to the other mark, 70, on the card, as is the case when the trial port marks are made with the trammel according to the old practice. And for making the record at the opposite or backward side of the parallel line, the sty lus is setat the corresponding side of said line (and in the port mark plane) and the engine run backward by its own steam until the two dead centers have been passed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to normally hold the stylus in the port mark plane for movement up and down with the valvestem,

and means adapted to' be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

2. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to normally hold the stylus in the port mark plane in yielding engagement with the'valve stem to partake of the up-and-down movement of the latter, and stylus-actuating mechanism adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

3. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to normally hold the stylus in the port mark plane to bear upon one side of the valve in the up and down path of the latter, yielding means for pressing said support against said stem, and means adapted to be operatively conuected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

4. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to normally hold the stylus in the port mark plane for movement up and down with the valve stem, and electro-magnetic mechanism adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

5. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to normally hold the stylus in the port mark plane for movement up and down with the valve stem, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus transversely to said stem when said part is passing the dead centers.

6. In an appa atus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to normally hold the stylus in the port mark plane for movement up and down with the valve stem, and electro-magnetic mechanism adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus transversely to said stem when said part is passing the dead centers.

7. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to normally hold the stylus in the port mark plane in yielding engagei'neut with the valve stem to partake of the up-and-down movement of the latter, and electro-magnetic mechanism adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

8. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to normally hold the stylus in the port mark plane, said support bearing on one side of the valve stem in the up-and-down path of the latter, yielding means for pressing said support against said stem, and electromagnetic mechanism adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

9. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination oi? a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be secured to the top cross-head guide and to engage the valve stem for up-and-down movement with the latter while said support is normally stationary with reference to other directions, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing 'the' dead centers.

10. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be secured to the top cross-head guide and to engage the valve stem for u -and-down movement with the latter whi e said support normally stationary with reference to other directions, and means adapted to be operatively connected with the part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for moving the stylus transversely U) said stem when said part is passing the dead centers.

11. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be secured to the top cross-head guide and in yielding engagement with the valve stem to adapt it to partake of the up-and-down movement of the latter while it is held against movement in other directions, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

12. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be secured to the top cross-head guide and bear upon one side of the valve stem in the up and-down path of the latter, yielding means for pressing said support against said stem, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

13'. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a member adapted to be secured immovably to the engine adjacent the valve stem, a second member applied to said first member for upand-down movement. and adapted to be en gaged by the. valve stem to partake of the up-and-down movement of the valve stem, a stylus supported by said second member, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

ll. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a member adapted to be secured iinmovably to the engine adjacentthe valve stem, a second member applied to said first member for upand-down movement and bearing upon one side of the valve stem in the up-and-down path of the latter, yielding means for pressing said second member against said stem, a stylus supported by said second member, and

means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in opera tive relation with the iston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

15. In an apparatus for making records on a slidevalve stem, the combination of a member adapted to be secured immovably to the engine adjacent the valve stem, a second member applied to said first member for upand-down movement and bearing against the lower face of the valve stem, yielding means pressing said second member upward, a stylus supported by said second member, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part ofthe engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

16. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a member adapted to be ecured immovably to the engine adjacent the valve stem and having an upright cavity, a stylus-supporting recorder head having a stem extending slidably into said cavity, said recorder head being in engagement with the valve stem for moving up and. down with the latter, a stylus supported by said recorder head, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston foractuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

17. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a member adapted to be secured immovably 'to the engine adjacent the valve stem and having an upright cavity, a stylus-supporting recorder head having a stem extending slidably into said cavity, said recorder head being in engagement with the lower face of said valve stem, yielding means for pressing said recorder head upward, a stylus supported by said recorder head, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when said part is passing the dead centers. j

18. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a member adapted to be secured immovably to the engine adjacent thevalve stem and having an upright cavity, a stylus-supporting recorder head having a stem extending slidably into said cavity, said recorder head being in engagement with the valve stem for movingup and down with the latter, adj ustable means for engaging said stem against rotation, a stylus supported by said recorder head, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating said stylus when saidpart is passing the dead centers.

19. In an apparatus for making records on slide valve stem, the combination of a base adapted to be secured immovably to the engine adjacent the valve stem, a pedestal adjustably secured to said base, a stylus-sup porting recorder head supported by said pedestal in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but to be otherwise stationary, a stylus supported by said recorder head, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation witli the piston for actuating the stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

20. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a base adapted to be secured imn'iovably to the en ine adjacent the valve stem, a pedestal ad ustably secured to said base, a stylus-supporting recorder head bearing upon one side of the valve stem in the up-and-down path ofthe latter, yielding means for pressing said head against said stem, a stylus sup ported by said recorder head, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating the stylus when said part-is passing the dead centers.

21. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a base adapted to be secured immovably to the engine adjacent the valve stem, a pedestal adj ustably secured to said base, a stylus-supporting recorder head supported by said pedestal for up and down movement and bearing against the lower face of the valve stem, yielding means pressing said head upward, a stylus supported by. said head, and means adapted to be operatively connected with a part of the engine which is in operative relation with the piston for actuating the stylus when said part is passing the dead centers.

22. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise stationary, and electrical mechanism for actuating said stylus, said mechanism including two circuit-control]ing devices, one-in posi tion to be operated by the cross-head when the latter is at itsfront center and the other adapted to be operated by the cross-head when the latter is at its back center.

23. In an apparatus for making records ona slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise sta tionary, and electrical mechanism for actuating said stylus, said mechanism including two circuit-controlling devices mounted upon relatively the cross-head, one being in position to be actuated by contact with a relatively stationary part when the cross-head is at its frontcenter and the other being in position to be actuated by making contact with a r latively stationary part when the crosshead is at its back center.

24. In an apparatus for making records on aslide valve stem, the'combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise stationary, and electrical mechanism for actuating said stylus, said mechanism including two circuit-controlling devices yieldingly mounted upon the cross-head, one being in position to be actuated by contact with a relatively stationary part when the crosshead is at its front center and the other being in position to be actuated By making contact with a relatively stationary part when the cross-head is at its back center.

25. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve "stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise stationary, and electrical mechanism for actuating said stylus, said mechanism including two circuit-controlling devices adjustably mounted upon the cross-head, one being in position to be actuated by contact with a stationary part when the crosshead is at its front center and the other being in position to be actuated by making contact with a relatively stationary part when the cross-head is at its back center.-

26. In anapparatus on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise stationary, and electrical mechanism for actuating said stylus, said mechanism including two circuit-controlling devices yieldingly and adjustably mounted upon the cross-head, one being in position to be actuated by contact with a relatively stationary part when the cross-head is at its front center and the other being in position to be actuated by making contact with a relatively stationary part when the cross-head is at its back center.

27. Int-an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise stationary, ating said stylus, said mechanism including a bar adapted to be secured to the crosshead horizontally and parallel to the piston rod, a circuit-controlling device secured to the front end of said bar in position to be engaged by a relatively stationary part of for making records ating said stylus,

the combination of a and electrical mechanism for actuthe engine when the cross-head is on one of the dead centers, and another circuit-controlling device secured to the back end of said bar in position to engage a relatively stationary part of the engine when the crosshead is on the other dead center.

28. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise stationary, and electrical mechanism for actuating said stylus, said mechanism including a bar adapted to be adjustably secured to the cross-head horizontally and parallel to the piston rod, a circuit-controlling device secured to the front end of said bar in position to be engaged by a relatively stationary part of the engine when the cross-head is on one of the dead centers, and another circuit-controlling device secured to the back end of said bar in position to engage a relatively stationary part of the en ine when the crosshead is on the other dead center.

29. In. an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise stationary, and electrical mechanism for actuating said stylus, said mechanism including a bar adapted to be secured to the crosshead horizontally and parallel to the piston rod, a circuit-controlling device adjustably secured to the front end of said bar in position to be engaged by a relatively stationary part of the engine when the crosshead is on one of the dead centers, and

another circuit-controlling device adjustably secured to the back end of said bar in position to engage a relatively stationary part of the engine when the cross-head is on the other dead center.

30. In an apparatus for making records on a slide valve stem, the combination of a stylus, a stylus support adapted to be placed in relation to the valve stem to move up and down with the latter but be otherwise stationary, and electrical mechanism for actusaid mechanism including a bar adapted to be secured to the crosshead horizontally and parallel to the piston rod, a circuit-controlli11g device yieldingly secured to the front end of said bar in position to be engaged by a relatively stationary part of the engine when the crosshead is on one of the dead centers, and another circuit-controlling device yicldingly secured to the back end of said bar in position to engage a relatively stationary part of the engine when the cross-head is on the other dead center.

31. In an apparatus applicable to two approximately parallel members of a steam said members for actuating said siylus when engine, namely, the valve stem and the pissaid last mentioned member is passing tlm i ton cross-head, for lIldlCiL'i'l' the relative I 'n'iovenient of the piston and slide valve of dead centers.

such engine, the combination of a stylus, a r In testimony whereof I have signed my 5 stylus support adapted to normally hold the 1 name to this specification in the PIGSPHK'P m' 5 stylus in a plane which is transverse in said two subscribing Witnesses. approximately parallel members and in op- JOHY BAKER M l Gl'lAlili. erati've relation with one of said members 'ii iluesses: for marking thereon, and means aelapted to A. E. Acme, 10 be operatively connected with the other of C. A. Kmmx 

